A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.

The national curriculum for physical education aims to ensure that all pupils:

develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities

are physically active for sustained periods of time

engage in competitive sports and activities

lead healthy, active lives.

Key Stage 1

At Heap Bridge we ensure pupils develop fundamental movement skills, become increasingly competent and confident and access a broad range of opportunities to extend their agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others. We place value on engaging in competitive (both against self and against others) and co-operative physical activities, in a range of increasingly challenging situations.

Pupils are taught to:

master basic movements including running, jumping, throwing and catching, as well as developing balance, agility and co-ordination, and begin to apply these in a range of activities

participate in team games, developing simple tactics for attacking and defending

perform dances using simple movement patterns.

Key Stage 2

In KS2 we develop this further ensuring children continue to apply and develop a broader range of skills, learning how to use them in different ways and to linking them to make actions and sequences of movement. Our children enjoy communicating, collaborating and competing with each other. They develop an understanding of how to improve in different physical activities and sports and learn how to evaluate and recognise their own success.

Pupils are taught to:

use running, jumping, throwing and catching in isolation and in combination

develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics]

perform dances using a range of movement patterns

take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team

compare their performances with previous ones and demonstrate improvement to achieve their personal best.

Swimming and Water Safety

All schools must provide swimming instruction either in KS1 or KS2. At Heap Bridge we deliver a comprehensive swimming programme in Year 4. Any child not meeting the expectations set out below continue to access swimming provision in Year 5 and 6 if necessary.

In particular, pupils should be taught to:

swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres

use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke]